So many laughed at me (not here) before the season when I said that Denver is the best team in the West, and will at least make the NBA Finals. Though I did say that Milwaukee would win it all, so that was way off, but now I don't see any squad taking down Denver. Almost there, but the Lakers are gonna be tough obviously. Still, I wouldn't bet against the Nuggets with your money. Great coaching staff, and an organization that did it the way that it used to be. Draft well, and develop talent, then add a couple in free agency, or via trade to shore up the roster. If it wasn't for the Gobert deal in 2013, then the Donovan Mitchell/Lydon mishap in 2017, they'd be damn near flawless when it comes to the crap shoot that the NBA draft is. But hey, every team is entitled to a screw up, or two, and getting Gary Harris for Dougie McD was another great move. Anyway, I was confident that Grant would be the piece that put them over the top, as he is exactly the type of player that they lacked last season. And then you basically have the rest of the roster still intact, so it's not all that hard to come together compared to a team like the Clippers. One that had to ship out a huge piece of their young core that was developing well, along with draft picks galore for a so-called superstar. You can tell which team has more trust in each other when the game, or season is on the line.
The Murray/Jokic combo is absolutely lethal, and I'm not sure there's any other duo that I'd want to roll with in crunch time over them. It's damn near impossible to stop that two man game when they need a bucket. Not surprising that they have had to comeback again, and again since you try to set the tone early getting everyone involved. But, when it's winning time then get out the way, and let them work. They thrive with their back against the wall. Murray is fearless, and can get any shot he wants, while Jokic is just so deadly with the ball in his hands, or setting up a teammate for an easy bucket. He is a bit too unselfish at times, but his play making ability is in a league of its own really, in my opinion. All this at only 25 years old, and Murray at 23. Unreal, and then throw in all the other complimentary pieces with guys like Millsap, and Harris. A steady backup PG in Morris, and the untapped potential of Porter Jr. All seem to have a high basketball IQ. They know how to play the game, and with that coaching staff, and organization...well, good luck to the rest of the West for years to come.
LeBron is gonna have to get his last ring this year in my mind, because that window is closing real quick with the squads around him only getting better, and better. The WCF is gonna be a battle though, no doubt. I really think that LeBron will be unwillingly passing the torch after Denver takes them down in game 7. Not sure to who, or if he even has one to pass, but the Nuggets are the future. It won't be an easy series by any means, but the Nuggets have about as complete a team you can hope for. While the Lakers still have a couple holes on their roster that can be taken advantage of, and Malone is not someone I'd want to go against in the Conference Finals, or ever. He has instilled a winning culture, and they really are what a team should be. The chemistry cultivated these past few years gives them that edge when the game is on the line that these other teams thrown together via trades, and free agency can't match. They truly live, and die together.
TL;DR: Nuggets have built a juggernaut for years to come, and LeBron better get his ring this year, or that's all she wrote.
